French foreign minister to visit Georgia

DPA Paris, Aug 10 (DPA) French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner will travel to Georgia Sunday in a bid to halt the fighting in South Ossetia as part of his country’s role heading the European Union (EU) presidency. Kouchner will be accompanied by Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, who head the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the EU presidency said in a statement Saturday.

Delegations from the US, EU and OSCE were on the way to Tiblisi to discuss the fighting between Georgia and Russia.

France said “a continuation of the military action would have consequences on the relationship of the EU with Russia” and urged it to “observe the internationally recognised borders of Georgia”.

It welcomed Georgia’s willingness for a ceasefire and said the EU “expects Russia would accept such a ceasefire immediately”. DPA